The Mythical Mosquito Hawk: Not a Mosquito Hunter?!

The Mythical Mosquito Hawk: Not a Mosquito Hunter?!

There is a special sector of insects that are true gentle giants: terrifyingly large but harmless to people and many other creatures. One of these insects is commonly known as the mosquito hawk, but its real name is the crane fly. While many facts of this insect remain unknown due to its incredibly short life span, we do have a pretty good idea of how these strange creatures spend their few days on Earth.

The Short Life of Crane Flies

Crane flies thrive in warmer climates, which is why they can be found in tropical climates. Since crane flies only live for two to fifteen days, they don’t need much and therefore do not make a massive ripple in the pool of insects. They spend most of their time as larvae, which is also when they eat the most. The larvae are also called “leatherjackets” because of their tough brown exterior. They are usually found under dying leaves in the cold months of January and February. The larvae can also be found underwater on the banks of streams, ponds, and wet logs. Leatherjackets eat a variety of decaying materials, including decomposing plants, wood, roots, grass, vegetables, and flowers. This builds up the fat reserves in the larvae for later, so that the adult crane fly can survive off of little sustenance. We don’t see leatherjackets most of the time because they are so small and hidden underwater. 

An adult crane fly basically only lives long enough to mate, lay eggs, and die. They are long and narrow, with some varieties measuring over two inches long! They have two thin wings and six legs longer than their body. Their legs can be easily broken since they are so long and fragile. The quality of their vision is unknown, even though they have big eyes reminiscent of common houseflies’. Crane flies love light and will flock to any kind of light source, from a porch light to a light in a dark car at night. They can also be found near the water due to it being their birthplace, which is why they are often found comically skating across a swimming pool or lake. The microscopic waterproof hairs on their bodies keep them from sinking, so they can smoothly move across the surface. Since crane flies have such short life spans, the mating process is really all they live for and is a relatively short experience.

The Mating Game

Crane flies inherently know that they have to mate when they first become adults, since they will likely die a few days later. The male crane flies will fly around their home, likely spreading pheromones that attract females. After the mating process is over, the male will fly away to die somewhere else. The female will lay her eggs in damp soil or on the bank of a body water, then die shortly after. This quick process is how crane flies keep the generations going despite not eating much in adulthood. 

There are a few visual ways to tell the difference between male and female crane flies if you are curious. Males have long antennae and a round body, while females have an elongated body in order to store and lay eggs. Also, male crane flies have erratic flight patterns while females fly relatively straight. Both genders have the same approximate life span and neither one will bite (spoiler alert!), but it may be fun to see if the crane fly in your garage is a male or female.

What’s in a Name?

It’s time that we address the elephant-sized pest in the room: mosquito hawks are falsely named! It is easy to see why the common belief that they eat mosquitoes has been passed down for generations. Crane flies are huge and hang out around lights, which is where many smaller insects stay, so it can be assumed that crane flies are there for food. But this is simply not true. Crane flies don’t even have the correct mouth parts to eat mosquitoes, so they couldn’t eat them if they wanted to. They are not predatory by nature, so they won’t hunt any kind of small creature. Crane flies can’t bite or sting in any way, so they also aren’t a danger to humans. Adult crane flies eat far less than their larvae stages, so it is common to just see the insect flying around without looking for food. If they eat anything as adults, they will drink a little bit of honey water or dew. They also like nectar from flowers, so the species that look for this substance can actually be considered pollinators. Since they aren’t dangerous or predatory in any way, crane flies can still be left alone if you find them near your garage or porch. There is no harm in keeping the tradition going for a little while and telling your children that they need to leave these insects alone because crane flies actually help more than we think.

Impact on the Environment

Even though crane flies don’t eat mosquitoes or other pests, they are still helpful for the environment and ecosystem of your yard. This starts early in their life, as the larvae decomposes organic material and enriches soil and the habitats for other creatures. They eat a lot of decaying leaves and other surrounding material that would otherwise kill the living plants. Also, crane flies may not eat insects, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t hunted by larger predators. Crane flies are a popular food choice for reptiles, amphibians, birds, and insects. Their large size means more protein for the consumer, so the crane flies give them the energy to keep going. They are also a favorite of fish, which is why they are good fish bait for people who love fishing. Crane flies are the model for many popular fishing lure styles as well, so they are still helpful even when they aren’t actively used as bait. These insects don’t live in a colony or hive, so it is not super typical to see a swarm of them in the summer. They live such short lives, so any kind of gathering or swarm is even shorter-lived than their life span. The life and impact of a crane fly are small yet memorable, possibly due to their terribly large size.

Pest Control is Also Beneficial

Crane flies aren’t commonly considered pests, which is mainly due to their falsely-determined name. But if you live near the water, it is possible to experience swarms of these alarmingly-huge insects. Our pest control team is prepared for any kind of infestation or swarm, and we know how to take care of the problem without harming the environment. Crane flies may not eat mosquitoes, but that doesn’t mean that they receive an open invitation to live in our homes.

Citations

Brown, K. (n.d.). The truth about mosquito hawks. Mosquito Squad. Available at https://www.mosquitosquad.com/austin/about-us/blog/mosquitoes-facts-more/the-truth-about-mosquito-hawks/ (Accessed on April 5, 2022).

Hume, L.B. (2021, July 2). The crane fly: A skeeter eater? Country Roads. Available at https://countryroadsmagazine.com/travel/outdoor-adventures/the-crane-fly-a-skeeter-eater/ (Accessed on April 5, 2022).

Merchant, M. (2016, March 15). Crane flies, not mosquitoes. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Available at https://citybugs.tamu.edu/2016/03/15/crane-flies/ (Accessed on April 5, 2022). 

Mertz, L. (2015, August 17). Mosquito hawk? Skeeter eater? Giant mosquito? No, no, and no. Entomology Today. Available at https://entomologytoday.org/2015/08/17/mosquito-hawk-skeeter-eater-giant-mosquito-no-no-and-no/ (Accessed on April 5, 2022).